DescriptionUsually measures up to about 4 mm long, although there are reports of speciment up to 8mm long. Body is a smooth, without any appendages or tubercles, apart from the curved rhinophoral crest above and in front of each eye. These crests are absent in juveniles, and may not be well developed in adults, but when they are, and depending on the viewing angle, they may appear fingerlike rhinophores. The body is coloured black or dark brown, with some translucent white zones: the dorsal side of the foot, the dorsal surface of the metapodium (tail), the eye area, the rinoforales crests and often the center of the dorsum. Sometimes there are white spots in dark areas and sometimes there are also some small greenish spots with a few spots of reflective green. The anus is located a short distance behind the middle of the body on the right side, it is often difficult to see, except when defecating. The head has a truncated leading edge, and extends in front of the foot. It lacks digitiform rhinophores or oral tentacles. The foot has a translucent white sole, scattered with white dots, and often reveals the internal viscera by transparency, as they are usually of two shades of green. The foot lacks any propodial tentacles or extensions, while the front side of the foot is slightly swollen.

BiologyIt does not live in brackish water, although it may be dragged into low salinity pools by tidal action. It is found on algae of the genus Cladophora, Bryopsis and Ulva. Spawning takes place from June to November, and veligers are part of the plankton for about a week before the metamorphosis.

Etymology

Limapontia, from Greek “limax”, slug + “Pontos”, ancient personification of the sea; father of Nereus.

Capitata, from Latin “capitatus”, head shaped.

DistributionIt is distributed from the Arctic to the Mediterranean and it is widespread along the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland.